At the opening of church edifice of Second Church of Christ, Scientist, in Buffalo, N. Y., April 15, 1900, the following address was delivered by the First Reader,
To the dear friends who have come here to rejoice with us on this day which marks the realization of one of God's manifold blessings, we extend a loving welcome. With grateful hearts and glad voices let us give thanks together for all "His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."
When we took possession of this building six weeks ago and began the remodeling which has transformed it into a home for Christian Science work, the declaration was made that our opening service should be held on Easter Sunday. To one who does not understand how practically to demonstrate the omnipotence of divine Love, by which all things are made to "work together for good to them that love God," this would have seemed an impossible thing to accomplish. The limited time, the inclement weather of the past month, the many unforeseen obstacles which appeared to delay progress, were a trial of our faith, but the goal had been set and all worked toward it with unswerving steadfastness of purpose. To-day, while the air is still pulsing with the glad strains of Easter anthems, before the joyous declaration by unnumbered voices that "Christ is risen," has ceased to sound, calling the whole world to waken from the dream of mortal sense and to rise with him into newness of life, with hearts attuned to this universal song of rejoicing, we come together here with thanksgiving and a song of praise upon our lips. Our Easter service is not the commemoration of a dead past, but the recognition of a living present, not the observance of a special time or season, but the realization of that perpetual holy day which should be kept by those who have been released from the dark sepulchre of material sense and are discerning, even though faintly, the glorious presence of the Christ-Truth.
